Police: Watertown Man Surfed Internet While Baby Drowned

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Police say a Watertown man left his baby alone in a bathtub for at least 18 minutes so he could surf the internet.

The infant died and now the father is charged with criminally negligent homicide.

Watertown police additionally charged 30 year old Michael Davis of 740 Cadwell Street with endangering the welfare of a child.

According to Watertown Police Detective Stephen Backus, Davis was home alone with his 10 month old son, Brady, on August 22, when Davis decided to give the baby a bath.

Backus said Davis left the infant alone in a bathtub and went into the living room, which was about 30 feet away.

"Based on some evidence at the scene, mostly involving his computer, he admitted to being out of the room for several minutes. The computer showed that it looks like he was out of the room at least 18 minutes, left the child unattended in at least 5 inches of water in the tub," said Backus.

According to Backus, evidence showed Davis was on the computer from 5:25 p.m. until 5:43 p.m.

He said 911 was called at 5:44 p.m.

Backus said ambulance crews were able to get the baby's heart beating, but Brady died the next day at a hospital in Syracuse.

Davis turned himself in to police Friday morning.

"He's been very remorseful, distraught. He knew from the start of the investigation that he was responsible for his son's death. He's been cooperative and he knows he made a big mistake here and it was a fatal tragedy as a result of that," said Backus.

Davis was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

Backus said Davis lost another son, one year old Kentin Davis, in 2009.